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Person in Custody for Ballston Common Mall Molotov Cocktail

LANHAM, Md. (CBSDC) — A person of interest is in custody in connection with an incident at Ballston Common Mall where a Molotov cocktail-like device was thrown into the food court.

The man was standing in the upper portion of the mall when he threw the device down into the court shortly after noon on Thursday. The bottle shattered, but did not catch fire or explode. The man ran from the mall after throwing the bottle.

The 40-ounce bottle was filled with an unknown liquid and had a fuse attached. Three similar bottles have also been discovered on the second level of the mall.

Paramedics were requested to evaluate two people at the mall, though police say no one was injured.

Hazmat crews have also been working to clean the scene.

Federal agents from the FBI and ATF will assist local police with the investigation. Authorities do not believe this was an act of terrorism.

Police say man matching the suspect description was found near the county government building on Clarendon Boulevard where they were called to investigate a suspicious package.

Authorities initially described him as a bearded black man in his 30s, roughly 5 feet 11 with medium-length curly hair. He was well dressed with a white dress shirt, tie and a gray jacket.